thedispatch | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ It's happening once again - her life, flashing before her eyes.

The shock that gripped her chest, as the demon grasped her face, muttering against her lips that it would erase the pain of her pathetic existence. Meeting William's gaze with excitement as they threw themselves into the throes of battle. Launching herself at him when he'd announced that they would be investigating a case together. Waking up that morning in a cold bed, before pulling herself out of it to piece herself together.

Hundreds of other beginnings like it, contrasting the liveliness she threw into her days, the unusual occurrences that came with her occupation, and the way her heart twists around that one special man. A time of fiery passion, bloodshed, lust - so brief, less than a thousand days of bliss, before reality tore the blanket from her eyes. Thirty-six-thousand like the ones that proceeded them. Love. Meeting William. Rage. Being "reborn," they said. Throwing herself into the ocean from cliffs high above.....

Her body relaxes as it all fades away. It's nearly bliss-- until the beast tears her scythe from her hands to plunge through her chest. Its laugh is wretched, gravely, as it steps on her shoulder to remove the blade and brandish against William.

It slowly walks back, giving the man the unspoken option to pursue it for battle, or approach his colleague. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You just said it would be high maintenance.

[ Really, he doesn't want to be having an argument over her hair, so he just shakes his head and reaches into the pocket of his jacket. He produces a sturdy black comb and holds it out to her. ]

Oh, well, I thought you'd meant visually.

[ Actually smiling now, she reaches to take it! ]

The drama of it suits you, certainly. But having seen you with all lengths of hair, I can say that you look just fine with it shorter.

[ He leans back in his chair, glad that the argument diffused rather quickly. ]

All of it was around the length of your bangs when we first met.

[ Grell attempts to pull the comb through the locks over her shoulder, but it just tugs and-- doesn't do much else. Frowning, she feels like she's doing something very long, and she can't remember what that is.

But William's comment gets a glance out of her. It's almost nice of him to say! ]

And that was more than one hundred years ago, you said?

Yes. One hundred years. What does that matter?

[ He seems slightly frustrated that the time period can't get through to her. ]

[ She frowns. ]

We must not have had much history, if losing the past hundred years doesn't faze you.

[ He returns the frown. Then with a huff he reaches inside his jacket to pull out his pocket watch. A brief glance and he stands from his seat. ]

I am taking my lunch. What would you like, if anything.

[ Her initial comment is ignored for now. ]

[ Though she tries to hide it with a deepening frown, Grell certainly doesn't want him to leave just yet, and might feel a bit stressed over it...!

Ah, but he's offering to bring her food. She is hungry, now that she thinks about it. Perhaps another reason that she's been so grouchy? ]

That-- would be nice, if you were to bring me something... Whatever you think I'd like, I suppose?

[ Wow, she doesn't even remember what foods she likes. This is going to be a very stressful...day? ...week? ...year?? William's getting a headache just thinking about it. ]

Fine.

[ With that he exits, leaving her to process what he's been able to tell her, so far, while he goes to fetch lunch. He's not gone long, and once back, he sets two paper cups upon the rolling table that's next to Grell's hospital bed. They're both steaming, filled with hot tea. Grell's is sweet with cream added. At first it looks as though that's all he's brought, but suddenly he's summoned the rest of their lunch from seemingly no where. A sandwich for himself, and what appears to be the hot meal they were serving for the day, fettuccine in a pesto sauce with garlic roasted tomatoes. ]

[ When William arrives, he'll discover that she's dozed off, comb still in-hand. Likely, the medication is to blame. Hearing his footsteps, though, she stirs - and a smile flutters across her lips as she sees her company.

Unnoticed, the comb slides down to her lap, as she grasps the side of her bed, in an attempt to sit herself more upright. She partly succeeds, enough that she leaves it at that, heaving a sigh while her grimace relaxes. ]

That smells lov-- [ Having reached for the cup of tea, she flinches back, upon having something appear before her, out of nowhere!! ]

[ He can only assume her sudden flinching is related to the pain she's felt. Tucking things away into their little hammerspace is so natural by this point, he doesn't realize that it's what took her off guard. ]

Is the medication still not working?

[ Confused, she stares hard at the table, now full with food. She definitely would've noticed him bring that in, right? ]

Hm? I no longer feel as though I've been torn in two, but I'm feeling a bit-- absent, I suppose...

[ She rub a hands under her glasses! ]

Understandable. Inconvenient, but considering the severity of what happened, I am not surprised.

[ He pulls the chair he'd been sitting in earlier closer to the bed so he can eat, as well. ]

Hopefully you still enjoy pasta.

[ Given how her stomach twists with hunger, she decides that she'll return to questioning her sanity at a later time. Closing her eyes, she softly inhales the scent of her meal. Softly! Her chest won't allow otherwise. ]

I'm taken by the very smell of it, so I'd say that must be so.

[ The remark comes as she takes up her fork to dig in, wasting no time in stabbing into the soft noodles. It's hardly graceful, and she doesn't even wait for them to cool before sticking the utensil in her mouth!

Cupping a hand over her parted lips, she attempts to blow out the steam that burns her mouth as she chews! ]

[ He simply shakes his head at her impatience, taking up his sandwich for a generous bite. If there's anything he can say he enjoys about this job, it's that the cafeteria serves surprisingly pleasing food. ]

As you were stating before I left, it isn't that I'm unfazed by this. But I'm relieved that you pulled through, more than anything.

[ Already digging in for her second bite, and repeating the same process with only slightly more caution, she watches him as he speaks. Pauses, to pick up a napkin and press it to her lips. ]

Perhaps I shouldn't have said that. [ Her lids flutter as she stares down into her plate. ] I've been so focused on how-- [ A small shake of the head. ] -- new and alarming everything seems. Even when you told me your perspective, I hadn't taken the time to understand it.

We've all felt the same, upon arriving in this world. It isn't something that is easy to process, at first. Unfortunately, we've both been known to disregard each other's perspectives, needs or requests. I suppose this is the perfect time to mend that between us.

[ Look, he's putting in effort to build an actual friendship! ]

[ Raising her eyes to meet his once more, she nods with something of an embarrassed, lopsided little smile. ]

I'd like that.

[ Though he doesn't smile, the look on his face is calm enough to portray one in its own William type way. ]

What else would you like to know, then?

[ Still smiling, as she looks down to her plate, she continues to prod at it as she hums. ]

Tell me more about how we met, perhaps.

[ After finishing another bite, and taking a sip of tea, he clears his throat. ]

We were partnered for our final at the Academy. It was our first time judging and reaping a soul, and you were rather displeased at being paired with me.

[ At the mention of an academy, her brows furrow with some amusement. So they were put through school for reaping. Of course. ]

Really? Why was that?

I believe you said that, as a B grade student, I wasn't worth your time.

[ While at the time, the comment didn't faze him in the slightest, now there seems to be a bit of bitterness at the memory. ]

[ Yikes. She vaguely grimaces behind a sip of tea. ]

Well, clearly, you changed my mind-- yes?

Very much so.

[ He'll leave it vague for as long as he can. ]

There was a bit of climbing to be done in office ranks, but eventually we were both given positions in Collections.